The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for generating a verified minimum viable range (MVR) of an object. An exposed outer corner and exposed edges of an object may be identified by processing one or more image data. An initial MVR may be generated by identifying opposing parallel edges opposing the exposed edges. The initial MVR may be adjusted, and the adjusted result may be tested to generate a verified MVR.

A system for detecting an anomaly in an execution of a task in mixed human-robot processes. Receiving human worker (HW) signals and robot signals. A processor to extract from the HW signals, task information, measurements relating to a state of the HW, and input into a Human Performance (HP) model, to obtain a state of the HW based on previously learned boundaries of the state of the HW, the state of the HW is then inputted into a Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) model, to determine a classification of an anomaly or no anomaly. Update HRI model with robot operation signals, HW signals and classified anomaly, determine a control action of a robot interacting with the HW or a type of an anomaly alarm using the updated HRI model and classified anomaly. Output the control action of the robot to change a robot action or output the type of the anomaly alarm.

A detection system has an interface including a substrate supporting a conductive coating. Electrodes are provided to the substrate. A multiplexer provides current to the electrodes. A demultiplexer receives voltages from electrodes and provides corresponding signals to a controller. The controller receives these signals and determines therefrom an operation performed in connection with the interface by applying an algorithmic approach. Static interaction is recognizable, and machine learning can be used for gesture recognition and/or identification of other interaction types. The technology can be used in a broad array of applications, e.g., where it is desirable to sense interactions with a defined region such as, for example, in the case of touches, gestures, hovers, and/or the like.

Methods and systems for autonomously delivering consumer items in disposable packages, in which the disposable package, with the consumer item inside, are carried under a wheel robot using a grabbing mechanism that holds the package under the wheel robot. The wheel robot straddles over the package to allow the grabbing mechanism access to the package during a loading process, and then straddles off the package at a delivery location after the grabbing mechanism releases the package with the consumer item inside. Releasing of the package can be done by lowering the package to the ground in a controlled manner, or by simply releasing the package above ground thereby dropping the package.

An acquisition section 42 acquires a pose at a clock time ti and a pose at a clock time tj for each of plural robots, and acquires structural information. Based on structural information a computation section 44 computes positions of the prescribed part for each of the robots at the clock times ti, tj and at a midway clock times tc. A possibility determination section determines a possibility of interference, based on any overlap between added-margin regions resulting from addition of a prescribed margin to a circumscribing shape containing positions of the prescribed part at the clock times ti, tj, and tc for each of the robots. In cases in which there is a possibility of interference, an end determination section 48 sets tc so as to be a new ti or a new tj, and causes processing of the computation section 44 and the possibility determination section 46 to be executed repeatedly until a spacing between the prescribed parts satisfies an end condition. When determined that the end condition has been satisfied, an interference determination section 50 determines whether or not there is interference between the prescribed parts between the robots at any of the positions at ti, tc, and tj.

There is provided a method for controlling a destination of a robot. The method includes the steps of: when information on obstruction of arrival at a first destination of a robot is acquired, determining an obstruction area associated with the arrival obstruction information by clustering adjacent areas around the first destination, determining a destination candidate area around the obstruction area with reference to a size of the robot, and determining an area in the destination candidate area, which is specified on the basis of a location of the robot, as a second destination of the robot.

A control device for a robot includes: an external force acquisition section configured to acquire external force applied to a movable element during operation of the robot; a first condition determination section configured to determine whether or not a first condition that the external force exceeding a predetermined first threshold is applied to the movable element is satisfied; a second condition determination section configured to determine whether or not a second condition that the movable element is moving is satisfied; and an operation control section configured to stop the operation of the robot when both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, while continuing the operation of the robot when at least one of the first condition and the second condition is not satisfied.

A method for determining a protection zone with a protection radius about a wireless communication object transponder, wherein the method includes a) ascertaining a first indefinite position of the object transponder using a first locating system, b) ascertaining at least two definite anchor object distances between the object transponder and at least two anchor gateways with respective known positions via a definite distance measuring device using a two-way ranging method, and c) ascertaining the protection radius using a failsafe computing device which receives the first indefinite position from the first locating system and the at least two definite anchor object distances from the distance measuring device and determines the protection radius therefrom using the known positions of the at least two anchor gateways.

A method of controlling a robot manipulator, the method including: providing a database containing body zones of a person, wherein each of the body zones is assigned a respective maximum permissible value of contact pressure value, determining a current or a future contact event of the robot manipulator involving the person, and determining a body zone of the person that is contacted, determining a reference position fixed relative to a body of the person, wherein the reference position indicates beginning of a spatial progression of depression of tissue of the person during the contact event with the person, and controlling the robot manipulator in an impedance-regulated manner, such that the reference position serves as a zero position of an artificial spring component of impedance regulation of the robot manipulator and a maximum permissible contact pressure is not exceeded as a limit value.

Systems and methods for determining movement of a robot are provided. A computing system of the robot receives information including an initial state of the robot and a goal state of the robot. The computing system determines, using nonlinear optimization, a candidate trajectory for the robot to move from the initial state to the goal state. The computing system determines whether the candidate trajectory is feasible. If the candidate trajectory is feasible, the computing system provides the candidate trajectory to a motion control module of the robot. If the candidate trajectory is not feasible, the computing system determines, using nonlinear optimization, a different candidate trajectory for the robot to move from the initial state to the goal state, the nonlinear optimization using one or more changed parameters.